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‘Fitness Christmas’ arrives early at Silverthorne Rec Center

Brandon Evans
bevans@summitdaily.com
Construction is well underway at Silverthorne Recreation Center as they prepare to celebrate their 20-year anniversary next month with a host of improvements and new equipment.
By Brandon Evans / bevans@summitdaily.com |

These days there are just as many hard hats as hard bodies at the Silverthorne Recreation Center.

The center is undergoing a major round of renovations, which are slated for completion when the center celebrates its 20-year anniversary on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

The renovations create extra space in the facility for additional equipment.



“We’re adding about 30 new pieces of equipment,” said fitness coordinator Renee Rogers. “Thirteen of those pieces are equipment we’ve never had at the recreation center before … It’s fitness Christmas.”

Rogers’ eyes light up as she discusses some of the new equipment. They include three so-called Total Access machines.



“These are universal for any user,” Rogers said. “Even someone confined to a wheelchair can use them.”

They’re also adding a rope-pull machine, which lets the user stay near the ground while simulating the act of climbing up a rope. Users can also start out at a point that feels like they’re pulling only say 50 percent of their actual body weight up the cord.

Another new piece is what’s called the cage. It includes such workouts as bouncing a medicine ball off a small trampoline for reaction training and a punching bag.

“Even though it’s a machine built for a hard-core workout, it can be utilized by any level of user,” Rogers said.

Extra space has been created at the cardiac room and the free weights and circuit weights areas have been expanded. A movement studio is also being added.

MORE VISITORS

One of the major reasons for the upgrade was the increased number of visitors the center has garnered over the years. The rec center gets an average of 750 guests per day. That’s up from 500 a few years ago.

Rogers said many people utilize the center in order to make the best of the great outdoors and all the other physical activities offered in the High Rockies.

“Functional training is a big part of what we do,” she added. “You train for life. People want to be able to pick up a kayak over their head, hike a 14er or go for a long bike ride around the lake. We complement fitness for the outside lifestyle.”

“And the center is a welcoming environment that has something for everyone,” said Mindy Nicholds, athletics coordinator for the town of Silverthorne. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 8 or 80.”

Money for the renovations comes from the town’s capital fund. It’s a project years in the making that required input from town leaders, residents and commissions.

“It’s going to create more opportunities, more versatility and more space,” Rogers said.


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